Automobile starter



Feb. 7, 1928 A TTORNEY.

1 N V EN TOR.

fomra 5 /f 2 Sheets-Sheet l E. 5. HUFF AUTOMOBILE STARTER Filed June 27, 1925 Feb 7, 1928c 1,6583%,

' E. s. HUFF AUTOMOBILE STARTER Filed June-27, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

d Vem 5 A??? BY flwz /ma mi /4L1 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. F 1928.

narrao sra'r i.

EDWARD S. E'UFF, 0F MIAMI, FLGBIFDA.

AUTOMOBILE STARTER.

Application filed June 27, 1923. Serial No. 64%,002.

My invention relates to automobile starters, and an object of my improvements is to lock the starter mechanism so that the motor shall not be inadvertently geared with the engine when the latter is in motlon. Incidentally when the parts are ad uSted to looking position the ignition circuit is broken.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a partial diagrammatic detail view embodying my invention and illustrating its connection with the engine and starting motor of an automobile, the front Wall 01": the switch casing being remcved to show the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 11-11, Fi

Fig. 3, is a section on the line III-4H, Fig. 1, the rollers (Z being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a view of the switch case partly broken away, with the cover of the vacuum chamber removed to show the diaphragm.

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in locked position.

Fig. 6 is a central vertical sect1on of the switch casing, the parts being shown in locked osition.

Fig. is a section on the line VII-VII, Fi 1.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the parts being shown in the position they occupy when the starting apparatus is operative wheh starting the engine.

a re resents the startin motor. ,a is a movab e gear wheel on t e shaft of said motor. t represents the engine and b a gear wheel connected with theengine and adapted to be engaged by the gear wheel a to connect the motor to the engine for starting the latter. The energizing of the motor athrows the gear wheel a into mesh wlth the gear wheel 6 in a way well understood, and thereforemot specifically described and illustrated.

0 is the casing for the switch apparatus for, making and breaking the circuit through the motor a. 0 is a cylindrical casing extending upward from the upper end wall of the casing c. 0 is a similar cylindrical projection axially in line with 0 but extending downward from the lower wall of the casing c. d is a rectangular cross-head. its flat end faces bearing against the side walls of the casing c and its side walls engaging friction rollers d, d so that said cross-head is guided in its vertical reciprocation. 7, f are the binding posts for the wires f 7", which communicate with the motor a and through which said motor is energized. d is a contact strip secured to the lower end of the cross-head d and adapted to contact and complete the circuits between the binding posts f, 7 when said cross-head is at the lower end of its travel. The cross-head (5 extends in a cylindrical portion into the projection c and therein is surrounded by a helical springd which spring acts to force the cross-head d to the upper end of its travel. d is a cylindrical rod fitting and adapted to reciprocate in a horizontal aperture extending inward from one of the and faces of the cross-head (Z. d is a light helical sprin tending to force the end of the rod d out of the aperture in the cross-head d. c isa circular hole through a side wall of the casing 0 so located that it shall be axially in line with the rod 03 at an intermediate position of the cross-head d and of such a size that said rod may readily extend into said hole.

9 is a corrugated diaphragmsecured to one of the side walls of the casing a so that its center is in line with the center of the hole 0*. c is a concavo-convex cover or securing plate,the periphery of which is adapted to engage over the diaphragm g at its edge. Saidcover is bound in position by screws and firmly secures the diaphragm g in position somewhat spaced from the wall of the casing c and afl'ording a chamber 0 outside of said diaphragm. g is a cylindrical metal piece secured at the center of the diaphragm g and adapted to extend into the hole 0 and fill the same when the diaphragm g is in normal position, thus presenting a smooth unobstructed inner surface of the wall of the casing 0 upon which the crosshead (i may reciprocate. The diaphragm g is of such elastic strength that it prevents the rod d "from entering the hole 0 under the impulse of the spring 03 when said diaphragm is in its normal position.

5 is a pipe connecting the intake 1 assage b of the engine with the vacuum 0 amber -0 of the casing c.

e is a cylindrical rod pivotally connected to the upper end of the cross-head d and provided with a laterallyextending lug 6 e, e are eccentric lugs connected with the rod e to limit the angular motion of said .rod relative to the cross-head d by engaging against the latter. a is the cylinder of a pin lock which may be operated by a key from the upper end to turn the rod 6.

- (Figs. 7 and 8) is-a narrow slot throughthe upper wall of the casing a and through the lower wall of the pro ectio'n 0 e is a in extending laterally from the rod e and a apted to pass into the slotc to permit the full downward motion of the rod e with the cross-head d .or to engage at another angular position as shown in Fig. 7 to prevent the full downward, travel of said rod and cross-head.

h, h are binding posts upon the side of the casing c. k is an elastic tongue which normally breaks the connection between the binding posts k, h. When the rod 6 is turned to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the lug e engages against the elastic I tongue k and completes the circuit between the binding posts /2., h. The binding posts It, It are interpolated in the ignition circuit of the engine.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows:

Y The apparatus is put in operative condition by a key, as shown in Fig. 8, turning the rod e to such angular position thatthe pin 0 shall be free to pass into the slot 0 N ow v if-the-engine is motion a vacuum will be created in the .intake passage 6 which will be communicated to the chamber a? through the ipe b and flex the diaphragm 9 outwar removing the cylindrical block g from the hole 0*. Now should the operator inadvertently attempt to connect the motor a with the engine while the latter is running, he would press downward upon the rod e,

. pressin the cross-head d downward. When the ro d" came opposite the hole a the spring d would force said rod outward, en-

. be released in the intake passage and chamher 0 and the diaphragm y will return to the position shown in Fig. 3, forcing therod d out of the hole 0 and preventing its entering therein so than the operator is free to depress the rod e and cross-head d to com-. plete the energizing circuit through the mo-f tor a and engage the gear wheels a and b to start the. motor.

Whenthe rod 6 is turned to the position indicated in Fig. 7, the pin a will engage above the upper wall of the casing c and the lower wall of the cylindrical projection 0 asindicated in Fig. 7, and prevent the depression of the rod e and cross-head d to connect the-energizing circuit of the motor. At

this time, in the construction shown, the lug (2 is out of engagement the contact. I

strip 11. and the ignition'circuit is broken. Thus the operator in turning his key to release the same and to break the ignition circuit locks the starting switch .so that the starting motor cannot be energized to start the engine.

What Iclaim is:

1. In an apparatus of the kind described, an engine, an electric motor for starting said engine, means whereby the starting of said motor shall engage the same with said engine for starting the same, an energizing circuit for said motor, a switch for making and breaking v said circuit provided with a part adapted to be moved to lock said switch in its disengaged position,

an ignition circuit a make-and-break apparatus for said ignition circuit, said part being adapted to cause said make-and-break apparatus to interrupt the ignition circuit I when said part is moved to .lock' said switch in its disengaged position.

2. Inan apparatus of the kind described, an engine, a starting motor therefor, means for engaging said motor andengine to start the latter, said means consisting in part of a reciprocating part, a latch adapted to automatically engage to prevent the motion of said reciprocating part, means for preventing the operation of said latch, and automatic means depending upon the operation of said engine for actuating said means for preventing the engagement of said latch to permit the engagement of the same.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, an engine, a starting motor therefor, means for engaging said motor and engine to start the latter, said means consisting in art of a reciprocating part, a latch adaptefto-automatically engage to prevent the motion of said reciprocating part, means for preventing the operation of said latch, and means dependent upon the vacuum in the intake of the engine for actuating said means for preventing the engagement of said latch to permit the engagement of the same.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described, an engine,- a starting motor'therefor, means for engaging said motor and engine to start the latter, said engaging means consisting in part of a reciprocating cross-head, a spring-actuated latch on said cross-head adapted to-en'gage to prevent the motion of the same when extending out of said crosshead, and means defpendent upon the o eration of the engine or. preventing said atch from extending from said cross-head.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described,

an engine, a starting motor therefor, means for engaging said motor and-engine to start the latter, said engaging means consisting in part of a reciprocating cross-head, a spring-actuated latch on said. cross-head adapted to engage to prevent the motion of the same When extending out oi said crosshead, and actuated means for preventing said latch from extending from said crosshead.

6. In an apparatus of the kind described, an engine, a starting inotor therefor, means for engaging said motor and engine to start the latter, said means consisting in part of reciprocating cross head (2, a latch on said cross-head, a spring pressing said latch out of said cross-head so as to engage in an aperture to prevent tie reciprocation of said cross-head, a diaphra m, a part on said diaphragm interposet. in the line of motion of said latch and adapted to prevent the same from being forced out of said cross-head, said diaphragm being Within a chainher, raid C iil'lbel being in coii'iinunication with i e of the engine.

apparatus of the ltiiid described, an engine, starting niotor therefor, means i engaging said motor and engine to start er, said engag ng ills consist L 01 a reciprocating cross-head, a dantec to reciprocate to actuate said turn relative thereto, the lastare named part being adapted to be locked in the disengaged position of said cross-head at one angular position and to permit the full reciprocation of said cross-head in a different angular position.

8. In an apparatus or the kind described, an engine a starting motor therefor, means for engaging said motor and engine to start the latter, said engaging means consisting in part or" a reciprocating cross-head, a part dapted to reciprocate to actuate said crosshead and to turn reiative thereto, the lastnamed part being adaptei to be locked in the disengaged position of said cross-head at one angular position anti toll. reciprocation of said crossd in a different angular position, an ig unit, and means whereby said and rotating part sl care the 1 said ignition circuit at one 7 and toe breaking of saic circuit atanother angular position.

In testimony Whereoi,

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